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Lake Monsters prospect starts strong

Vermont Lake Monsters’ shortstop Richie Martin stands on first base during a game against Mahoning Valley on Wednesday. Martin was the 20th pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.(Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

In his professional debut, the speedy infielder notched two hits, scored two runs and drove in another. And that 2-for-4 performance was just the tip of the iceberg for Martin, who has six RBIs, 10 hits and a .323 batting average through the first seven games of his Vermont Lake Monster career.

Just don't tell the 21-year-old.

"That number means nothing to me," said Martin before Wednesday's game at Centennial Field. "I try to stay away from stats because I don't think they tell the true value of a player ... I could be hitting .200 but maybe I have had good at-bats ... I try to stay as far away from that as I can."

Martin, the 20th pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, joined the Lake Monsters last week after signing with the Oakland Athletics.

"It's come quick," Martin said. "After the College World Series, I went home for five days, then I went to Oakland. After Oakland we flew straight to Albany (N.Y.) and met with the team and then I started playing right then.

After Martin and the University of Florida were eliminated from the CWS, the whirlwind began. Martin signed with the Athletics — for $1.95 million, according to mlb.com — on June 30. He was in the Lake Monsters' lineup two days later and Wednesday he made his home debut in Burlington.

"I think now it is starting to hit me," Martin said. "When I signed and when I got drafted, it's like 'wow, I'm going to play pro ball,' but now it's actually here, I'm playing in short season.

For now, the start to that dream is focusing on having fun, said Lake Monsters manager Aaron Nieckula.

"I just want to see him ... do the things that got him here," the first-year skipper said. "Obviously being a first-round pick, there are some added responsibilities and expectations. I just want to make sure he comes in and plays his game."

So far his game has been good — Martin credits experience in the Cape Cod League and in the college game with helping him make the transition.

"Everything in college isn't the same, but they try to give you an idea of what to expect when you came here," Martin said. "I think the biggest thing with them was having a routine and they were right."

The idea of 'all baseball, all the time' has been the biggest change for Martin, with long days at the park differing from the routine of practice and class in college.

"You are coming to the field and you are going to be there for 10 hours," Martin said. "You have to have a routine, you have to know what you are doing every day."

While Martin adjusts to the new lifestyle in pro baseball, his work on the field is showing off his speed and fielding ability.

"He is one heck of an athlete," Nieckula said. "He's got a knack for finding the baseball, he puts the barrel on the ball. I like the way he plays defense, he's very athletic, he runs the bases well, he does some great things out there.

"I think it's just a matter of time before he starts putting it all together and we see the real deal, what this kid can do."

For the first two weeks of his professional baseball career, Martin has shown off his abilities, but he knows that the real test will come when he starts to struggle.

"All I can control is myself and how I play and how I bounce back after adversity," Martin said. "In every baseball player's season, you are going to go through a scuffle. I think the big thing is how you handle it."

Through the successes and slumps, Martin still has plenty to learn.

"I just want to become a better baseball player, all around," Martin said. "Right now, I am just here playing, that's what they told me, they just want to come out and be athletic and play.

"I am just out here playing right now."

The Vermont Lake Monsters return to action tonight against Mahoning Valley at Centennial Field at 7.

Contact Lauren Read at 660-1855 or lread1@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/laurenreadVT